Ippei Mizuhara Gambling Case: To Surrender on May 12, Sentenced to 57 Months
Former MLB star Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for his involvement in a gambling case and will surrender to federal authorities on May 12, 2025. This date is nearly two months later than the original March 24.
Case Review: Misappropriated $17 Million to Pay Off Gambling Debts
Ippei Mizuhara misappropriated $17 million (approximately €158 million/£132 million) belonging to Shohei Ohtani to pay off debts owed to an illegal gambling company in California. He was sentenced in February 2024. Over the past 37 months, he placed over 19,000 bets ranging from $10 to $160,000, with total losses of about $182.9 million and winnings of $142.3 million.
In court, Mizuhara tearfully apologized to Shohei Ohtani, admitting he had betrayed the baseball star's trust. Major League Baseball (MLB) determined after an investigation that Ohtani was a victim of fraud and did not impose any penalties on him.
Money Laundering Network Exposed, Casino Faces Heavy Fines
Some of Mizuhara's funds were illegally transferred to casinos in Las Vegas and Southern California, linked to illegal gambler Matt Bowyer. Bowyer is expected to be sentenced for money laundering in October 2025. Meanwhile, Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) has been fined $10.5 million by the Nevada Gaming Commission for failing to effectively prevent money laundering activities. This is the second-largest casino fine in the state's history.
Prison Location Pending, Possible Deportation After Sentence
It is currently unclear in which federal prison in California Mizuhara will serve his sentence. His lawyer has requested that he be allowed to serve near his residence in Southern California. After completing his sentence, Mizuhara may face deportation back to Japan.
Shohei Ohtani Remains the World's Highest-Paid Baseball Player
Despite being involved in the scandal, Shohei Ohtani's career remains unaffected. He signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and ranked 13th on Forbes' 2024 list of the world's highest-paid athletes, with total earnings of $85.3 million, making him the only baseball player on the list.
